John McDonnell backs call for an independent inquiry into UNISON officials

John McDonnell backs call for an independent inquiry into UNISON officials

John McDonnell MP is backing the call for an independent inquiry into the allegations made in courtagainst senior unison full time officials.

In a recent employment tribunal bought by fourelected UNISON branch officers a London full timeregional officer has alleged that the London Regional Secretary Linda Perks, the head of London Local Government Vicky Easton and London Head of HealthChris Remington are all engaged in a conscious policy of undemocratically seeking to remove elected branch officials who they viewed as being in "hotspot branches" or those elected officers who had "been around too long" and those who were "causing political trouble In the union".

Under legal discovery Documents were presented to the court, (which the union had previously denied existed or told the court were irrelevant). These showed that in 2006 the regional officer Tom Snow was removed as the regional officer for the Bromley Branch because he "had failed to deal with Glenn Kelly" and was told by Linda Perks that "a firm decision had been made that the problems posed by Glenn Kelly political loyalties needed someone fresh".

On the witness stand Tom Snow also revealed that in April 2008 he attended a two-day training course for London officials. He said on day two of the course it became clear that the real agenda was as stated by Linda Perks as "dealing with the problem of Trotskyist activists" and according to Chris Remington that "these people needed to be castigated."

These allegations that went uncontested by the senior officials are extremely serious as they reveal a conscious policy of unelected officials seeking to remove democratically elected branch officers whose views and politics they don't agree with. These allegations add to the growing concerns amongst members that there is a political witch-hunt taking place inside unison.

It is vital for union democracy that these allegations by a regional officer of 30 years standing are independently investigated and if found proven then appropriate action is taken.

We call on all union members and activists to sign the call for the general secretary to set up the independent inquiry.

Add your voice email d.prentis@unison.co.uk

I call on Dave Prentis to immediately establish an open independent enquiry into the allegations made against Linda Perks/Chris Remington and Vicky Easton.

Signed__________________________

cc email to info@stopthewitchhunt.org.uk

Attend the public Meeting with John McDonnell MP, Glenn Kelly UNISON NEC (pc!) and Caroline Bedale

December the 8th 7.30pm

House of Commons Committee Room 6

The end is in sight...

The final question to our panel is about whether the unions should still be linked to just one Party.

Glenroy Watson explains how the RMT was booted out from Labour. We need to work with those who will support us.

Linda Perks reminds us of the origins of the Labour Party and the benefits of having a union-linked Party. We are better off than in the USA where there is no such Party. Linda also thinks we need to consider how to strengthen the Union voice in the Party. Better late than never?

Karen Jennings refers back to the diversity of political speakers at this year's Health Conference - our delegates applauded Unionist and SNP speakers who opposed marketisation. She supports Dave Prentis who has said we will only back MPs who back us. However we have to support Labour to stop the Tories.

Sam Gurney reiterates the lessons of the late nineteenth Century and the need for a Party. The majority of unions are not affiliated. We are still the biggest social movement and need influence.

Rosemary Laryea thinks we should communicate our aims and our members' problems.

A contribution from the floor is effectively exposing the complacency of the platform about the failures of New Labour...
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Less lively live blogging

This is not the most entertaining evening of the year so far.

Glen Kelly has been called three times from the floor - most recently to call for Obama to become a socialist. This exhibits some optimism.

Glenroy Watson is doing a good job of puncturing illusions in the US President - where he asks did the coup in Honduras come from?

Only one person here believes the Nobel Peace Prize was warranted. Quite why we spend so long on US politics I don't know.
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Still blogging at the SERTUC Question Time

Our fifth question is a wide ranging question about prospects for young people. This is predictably giving rise to some vague and general answers. I am losing the will to live at this point.

We have moved on from this without questions from an audience who have been drifting off to a question about Barak Obama. Whilst the question of whether he will be a one term President is an interesting one I am not sure this question plays to the strengths of our Panel.
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And even more live blogging...

Without any contributions from the floor we move on to a fourth question - about whether nurses should be required to have a degree. Karen Jennings and Linda Perks give sound arguments against this but are not supported by an RCN speaker from the floor.

Rosemary Laryea and Glenroy Watson both sound sensible notes of caution. Is this an attempt to replace doctors with nurses? Is it about restricting access to nursing?

Trade union speakers do better in addressing trade union issues perhaps.
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And more live blogging

The second question is about the BNP on Question Time and Rosemary Laryea supports Nick Griffin's right to free speech. Other panellists including Linda Perks and Glenroy Watson rebut this as do contributors from the floor including UNISON Convenor Gloria Hanson.
The third question on international trade unionism gives Sam Gurney the opportunity to give what Karen Jennings describes as a "comprehensive" response (though that doesn't prevent her from speaking at greater length on the same topic...)
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Live blogging from SERTUC Question Time

The first question is about whether industrial action is effective - Karen Jennings says yes but only if you know you can win within three days!

Linda Perks agrees that industrial action is a last resort. A Tory Government will tighten the law and make it even more difficult to take action.

Glenn Kelly intervened to ask Karen if the Leeds bin workers should have given up.

Panel member Rosemary Laryea is angered by strike action.

Thankfully Glenroy Watson from the RMT is able to intervene to defend the action taken by his members earlier this year.

Sam Gurney from the TUC supports this.
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RMT campaign to end exploitation in UK waters

Workers in the UK are earning as little as £2.00 an hour.
 Email your MP today

RMT is campaigning to end exploitation in UK waters which can see seafarers earning as little as £2.00 an hour. 

This super exploitation is legal because seafarers do not enjoy the same protection under minimum wage and equal rights legislation as other workers. 

 Gwyn Prosser MP is a member of the RMT Parliamentary Group and has tabled amendments to the Government Equality Bill which would outlaw this exploitation. 

The Bill is being debated on 2nd December so please email your MP today asking them to back Gwyn Prosser's amendments. 

Email it to your MP by going to http://findyourmp.parliament.uk/ Please act today and please pass this message on to your workmates, family and friends.
 Yours sincerely
   Bob Crow
General Secretary 
MarshaJane
xx
www.unionfutures.blogspot.com

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Hands Off the People of Iran!

Come along to HOPI AGM on Saturday November 28th at 10am at Somers Town Centre, 150 Ossulston Street, London NW1.

Followed by my birthday drinkies (my last birthday in my 2o's ! ) see fb event here http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=183476052063&ref=mf

Motions are now online http://hopoi.org/?p=815 Deadline for amendments: Wednesday, November 25

Since the June 2009 elections, the situation in Iran has dramatically changed.

Thousands have taken to the streets in defiant protest – despite the Iranian regime’s history of brutal repression. Initially, they were commonly portrayed as middle-class backers of the leading ‘reformist’ candidate Mir-Hossein Moussavi, but as protests have continued, and Moussavi himself has repeatedly shown his timidity and ties to the theocratic state, the mood has radicalised dramatically and this anger has embroiled wide swathes of the society.

Many of those who were initially protesting against the election outcome now question the entire basis of Iran’s Islamic republic and there are daily strikes and protests.

Come along to our AGM to discuss this and many other issues.

Motions:All Hopi members can submit motions, which will be taken during the relevant part of the agenda.

.Agenda:
from 10amRegistration: £10 waged/£5 unwaged
11am-11.30amReport of Hopi secretary Mark Fischer, incl. campaigning priorities for the next 12 months
11.30am-1pmImperialism’s need for conflict and the situation in the Middle EastWith Moshe Machover (Matzpen founder) and Mike Macnair (CPGB)
1-2pmLunch
2pm-3.30pmWhy sanctions are not a ’soft alternative’With Cyrus Bina, author ‘Modern Capitalism and Islamic Ideology in Iran’
4pm-5.30pmIran’s workers’ movement since the June 2009 elections

With Yassamine Mather, Hopi chair

incl. Launch: Day of solidarity with workers in Iran

There will also be a fundraising event in the evening at the same venue and as I said above a celebration of my last birthday in my 20's! Yes I will be 29 :( fb event http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/event.php?eid=183476052063&ref=mf

To find out more, or to reserve your place, send an email to office@hopoi.info

LRC Vice Chair

I am standing down as Chair of the Socialist Youth Network in order to put more time into the Labour Representation Committee, to the National Committee of which I am seeking re-election at Saturday's Conference.

I am also standing for one of the two positions of Vice-Chair. I am not doing this out of personal opposition to either of the incumbents but to advance a political argument about what the Labour Representation Committee should be doing.

The LRC organises those of us on the left with an orientation towards the Labour Party as the party established by our class and sustained by our movement.

That orientation may vary from the heartfelt commitment of those born into the Party and expecting to die in it to the sound pragmatic calculation of those outside the Party (whether by choice or otherwise) who recognise that for the foreseeable future the prospects of constructing a UK wide electoral alternative on the left are even less favourable than the distant prospect of socialist advance within the Party.

The LRC is viable as a coalition of those with these different orientations to the Labour Party because - for the foreseeable future - these various perspectives lead to the same practical conclusions.

The LRC needs to be a vibrant voice for the Labour Left and for our movement - as well as being the distinctive voice of the Labour Left (in the broad sense) within the wider plural left of which we are and will remain an active part.

Therefore we need to be clear about our orientation to the Labour Party - that we are the LABOUR Representation Committee and that we are a voice of and for the Labour Left.

I believe that the welcome innovation of a job share candidacy for LRC Secretary will embody the alliance between those with different perspectives.

My candidacy for Vice Chair is an expression of the unequivocal orientation to the Labour Party and trade unions which I believe anchors the LRC to its wider constituency and gives us the distinctive political voice necessary for us to play a constructive role in the wider left.
MarshaJane
xx
www.unionfutures.blogspot.com

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SERTUC Question time 24th November

 

SERTUC Question time 24th November 6.30pm

 

PANEL DISCUSSION (AUDIENCE Q&A):

• Trevor Sterling (Chair – Thompsons Solicitors)
• Fraser James (Actor)
• Glenroy Watson (RMT)
• Karen Jennings (National Secretary for Health, UNISON)
• Linda Perks (Regional Secretary Greater London, UNISON & SERTUC Executive Committee)
• Rosemary Laryea (Presenter, Colourful Radio)
• Sam Gurney (Policy Officer, International Department, TUC)
 

Free admission - registration essential.

Sertucevents@tuc.org.uk

02074671220

 

 

 

 

Regards
Marsha-Jane

www.unionfutures.blogspot.com

xx